Ryton firm ordered to pay plant operator £8k

A FIRM dealing in building foundation stonework, has been told to pay a plant operator nearly £8,000 after he complained he was laid off for 22 weeks after making complaints about health and safety matters.

A FIRM dealing in building foundation stonework, has been told to pay a plant operator nearly £8,000 after he complained he was laid off for 22 weeks after making complaints about health and safety matters.

Christopher Jones told a Birmingham employment tribunal that he was laid off while others were kept on by Keller Limited of Oxford Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore.

Mr Jones, who was paid £719 a week, including travelling expenses and a bonus, travelled to various sites for the Ryton firm and is still employed by them.

He was seeking compensation for the lay-off which he alleged the firm had done after he complained about the health risks for employees suffering from stone dust.

The firm opposed the compensation claim and denied Mr Jones had been laid off because of his complaints.

Safety measures had since been installed at the sites the firm had been responsible for, it was said. Mr Jones alleged that he had been laid off because of his health and safety complaints.

Charles Price, for Mr Jones, said the claimant had been forced to find agency work, where he could, at a lower wage during the 22 weeks lay-off.

Tribunal judge Sheila Warren said the tribunal accepted Mr Jones had not covered his losses during the 22-week lay-off and awarded him a total of £7,803.